Who is the Council for the Summer of Love?
The Council for the Summer of Love was founded in 1967 by members of the Family Dog, the Diggers, the Oracle newspaper, the Straight Theater, and about 25 people who pitched in on an individual basis. As described in 1967, the Council was formed “to serve as a central clearing house for theatrical, musical, and artistic events, dances, concerts and happenings in the Haight-Ashbury district.” The Council supported the work of Dr. David Smith in the creation of the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, and of Reverend Larry Beggs who founded the Huckleberry House for Runaways. The Council also supported the Diggers’ efforts to be sure everyone had enough to eat and a place to sleep. It can be argued that the Circle’s events including the free concerts, happenings, and projects such as the “Haight Ashbury “Sweep-In” served to create a positive sense of community that extended to a whole generation and became identified with “the Sixties.” The Council never went completely away. Over the years, the
